Russian banks are sitting on trillions of rubles in bad debt as corporate and retail borrowers struggle with 20% interest rates, creating what banking officials privately describe as a dangerous situation that could trigger systemic crisis within a year.
Putin signs law permitting teenage employment in state-run organizations as Russia's economy slows to 0.8% growth amid war expenditures, 21% interest rates, and severe labor shortages in critical sectors.
Ukrainian dollar bonds reach 60 cents, driven by investor optimism over potential peace talks, though analysts warn of risks from a hasty settlement without security guarantees.
"EU delays Russian energy phase-out plan amid record LNG imports, as ten member states push for stricter measures while the Europen Commission aims for complete independence by 2027.
Analysts warn that the Kremlin’s reliance on shadow financing, soaring inflation, and a labor shortage are creating cracks in the facade of resilience, with some predicting a looming financial crisis driven by unsustainable military spending.
Moscow's secret war spending has forced regular businesses to borrow at a crippling 21% interest rate - creating an economic time bomb that could end the war.
Despite showing resilience with projected 2% growth in 2025, Ukraine's economy faces a lengthy path to recovery, with pre-invasion GDP levels not expected until 2030 due to widespread infrastructure damage and hostilities.
Trade between Ukraine and the EU reaches new heights under visa-free regime, with Ukrainian goods gaining unprecedented access to European markets ahead of planned agreement updates.
The sustainability of this economic resistance faces critical threats from severe labor shortages, energy vulnerabilities, and most importantly, uncertainty around continued Western financial support.
Ukraine's use of various weapon types to strike deep into Russian territory is having a substantial effect on Russia's energy exports, according to a high-ranking NATO official.
Russia systematically plunders Ukrainian minerals from occupied areas and improves transport for extraction, while facing partisan threats during stolen ore shipments, as per British intelligence.
Russia's artillery may deplete by 2025, tank reserves are sufficient until 2027, armored vehicles may degrade within 3-4 years, the financial strain growing, yet the manpower remains stable.